Riots in Uttar Pradesh CREATING A DIVIDE

The riots and criminal activities that took place in Uttar Pradesh (UP) over the last four months have created pandemonium in the state. The common people of the state are expecting nothing more than peace and development from the youthful Chief Minister. According to the Chief Minister, to keep everything under control, six months time is required. He also added that this situation wass created by the previous government and he is not guilty. He is leaving no stone unturned to maintain a strong vigil on his government officials. Some political thinkers believe that although Bareilly has faced such riots for the second time, the law and order machinery of the state has successfully controlled the situation. But it is clear that anarchism has not stopped yet. Whatever be the condition, the criminal activities that are occurring now and then in the state is having a negative impact on the common people. It should be ensured that Bareilly does not face such violence in the future and that can only be possible when the common people rise to the occasion. The riots that are occurring from time to time in Bareilly are an indication of a deterioration in the law and order situation in the state. The government should take serious steps to maintain law and order. The discussion is not only about Bareilly — criminals activities that are occurring in other parts of the state are also a matter of concern.
The actual point is that in the last four months, criminal activities have increased, which indicates a communal revolt in the state. The State Government may ignore this point, but it is not a good indication. The Krishna Janmashtami rally where the trouble started took place under of the vigilance of the police administration.
Curfew was announced in Bareilly on the late night of 22 July and in Ambala on the morning of 23 July due to the communal riots that broke out on the use of sound systems. 3 people were killed in the riots. Police Commissioner Shiv Sagar Singh along with five police officers and more than 30 people were injured. 4 police officers, 1 press photographer and approximately 15 people were injured in the firing that took place during the Janmashtami rally. The crowd started panicking and many people were robbed along with destruction of vehicles. Shoot at sight orders were given in the riot dominant areas and public transport was abandoned. According to the District Magistrate Mr. Abhishek Prakash, the curfew was strictly maintained in the dominant areas and 245 people were also arrested.

The Samajwadi Party’s policy of appeasement is making the state government helpless and this is the reason why the government is not able to take strict action against those who are involved in criminal activities.

The district administration and the police took some strict steps to bring the situation under control. According to the Director General of Police Mr. Devendra Singh Chauhan, the police were aware of the problems that could occur during the Janmashtami rally. Proper video footage was done and with the help of it many criminals will be recognised and arrested. All the criminals against whom there is authentic proof will be arrested. He totally refuted the allegation that women and children were harassed during the search campaign and also added that the search campaign was done under the vigilance of gazetted officers. People who spread the rumours about the riots through SMS would also be arrested. On the other hand, the victory procession of Ganga Maharani in Kunwarpur was successfully carried out under police protection in which the administration ordered curfew for the protection of people participating in the procession. Human Welfare and Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the riots that occurred in Bareilly.
In the mean time the State Government should seriously think over its policies and make sure that the law and order situation in the state shouldn’t become critical. The Government should immediately identify the problems and find their solutions. The State Government should also be aware and wary of the people who can criticise their approach towards reducing crime in the state. Although the Samajwadi Party ( SP ) government has asked for six months time to completely change the situation, in the last four months four riots have occurred, two times in Kosikalan of Mathura district, two times in Bareilly and one time each in Kunda of Pratapgarh and Lucknow. One group of intellectuals believe that from the time when the Samajwadi Party came to power, the Government is not ready to take any kind of action in the matter of preventing communal riots and maintaining law and order. The Samajwadi Party’s policy of appeasement is making the state government helpless and this is the reason why the government is not able to take strict action against those who are involved in criminal activities. According to a Muslim intellectual, the riots that broke out in Pratapgarh and Mathura are pathetic and regretful, but the government instead of staying secular is trying to create trouble among the Hindus and the Muslims. Under these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the Muslims leaders, ministers and MLA’s in the Samajwadi Party to wipe out criminal activities from the state and whenever such a situation arises they should be in touch with the Government and Muslims.
On the other hand, the Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhada Swami Yatidranand Giri Ji Maharaj in the head quarters of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Lucknow, stated that attacks are happening continuously on the Hindus but the government is not yet ready to take any strict action against the perpetrators. He also added that Bareilly, Kosikalan, Meerut and Ambala are the prime examples of these attacks. The state is under Muslim governance, the government is appeasing the Muslims only and deprivation of the Hindu community is taking place.